I The Behrend Beacon
Study Abroad Program Incredible Opportunity
Bv Lauren Weaver
stall w riter
Watching the Lillel lower twinkle on the hour, a
wild and cra/x night of clubbing in Barcelona, stand
ing oxer the grave ol Cucrai in the Roman Forum, a
stadium lull oi cra/cd. drum beating, chanting
German soccer lans, perhaps some of these tilings
seem ns unlikclx to be in vour near future as climbing
Mt. Everest. . . without oxygen. But that need not be
the ease. These opportunities are the "spice of life"
study abroad students thrixe on. They have the oppor
tunity to experience an unfamiliar culture, landscape,
and lifestyle, all while obtaining credits toward grad
uation. Students can go to the Learning Resource
Center (LRC), take any of the multiple pamphlets
containing information on 40 different countries,
select from 150 various programs, and (with a little
help from LRC directors) make a plan and lake the
jump.
Currently. Penn State Behrend has four students
studying abroad. The lucky host countries tire Spain.
China. England and Costa Rica. Next semester
Megan Hammers, a current junior, is living out to
Australia. She's very excited for her upcoming
adventure. Traveling and getting away from home are
just a couple of the reasons for her enthusiasm.
"There's a program for everyone." says Ruth
Pflueger. Bchrend's International Programs Advisor.
Summer programs tire open to everyone, while
semester and year programs are a little more restric
tive. The longer a person's experience abroad the
more they will learn. More time also provides more
chances to squeeze in that extra weekend trip to
wherever. There's a vast array of bonuses, perks, and
benefits to going abroad. Pflueger added, "It changes
Lion Entertainment Board’s Fall ‘O6 Film Schedule
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your perspective in ways you couldn’t predict.”
Allison Gray, a senior majoring in creative writing,
had the experience of participating in a summer pro
gram in England for 5 weeks. Beyond normal student
life, her favorite part of traveling was the “once-in-a
lifctime opportunity to view some of the most aston
ishing artwork in the world." she said. Her advice to
students unsure of whether or not to take a chance on
one of these overseas programs? “Go for it. Spend the
loan now and pay for it later. .. .It was the most mem
orable experience of my life and one that I'll cherish
for as long as I live." The experience gave her the
urge to travel more and explore the variety in the
potluck of world cultures, she says. There is no plau
sible comparison for the friends waiting to be made,
the rapid and eye-opening expansion of our “small
world" and the influence the entire ordeal will have
on your life. A textbook could never convey the
things that can be learned abroad.
Penn State offers summer, semester and full year
programs all with opportunities for scholarships. If
your foreign language skills are iffy, no worries: there
are programs in nearly every country that offer class
es in English. This also gives the added advantage of
accessing unique topics without a language barrier.
The only catch is that the priority deadline for the fall
semester and for year long exchanges is December
Ist.
If you’re interested in a chance to jet around the
globe, contact Ruth Pflueger and set up a meeting
either by phone (814-898-6418), e-mail
(repl @psu.edu) or even better, stop in the LRC and
take a look at all of the incredible options.
September 13-16
Click
September 20-23
The Break-Up
September 27-30 October 25-28
Mission Impossible 111 Pirates of the Caribbean 2
October 4-7
Nacho Libre
Student Life Snippets
Latin collective Inca Son play Bruno’s
By Sean Mihlo
student life editor
To celebrate National Hispanic Heritage
Month, which begins today, the Rhythms of Life
Series presents a performance by the Andean col
lective Inca Son on September 18 from 12:15
p.m. until 1:15 p.m, in Bruno’s Cafe. As a group,
Inca Son have been together for over fifteen
years, and first won acclaim with a contribution
to the score of PBS series Columbus and the Age
of Discovery. According to Inca Son’s website,
the band has a clear and precise goal, “to intro
duce and educate peoples to the riches of Andean
Culture.” To do this, the collective dons richly
colored, authentic Inca attire to perform the tradi
tional music and dances of Latin America and the
Andes Mountains of Peru. Besides performing
standard Latin American compositions (which
the band does alter slightly to fit their style), the
group writes original music as well. The band’s
discography includes four volumes of music,
while songs culled from the albums, including
“Ascope Tierra del Amanecer” and “Cholita
Tania," were hits in Peru.
Over the years, the band has gained huge
acclaim for their unique world musicality. In
1993 and 1995, Inca Son was nominated for the
LEB Presents: Comedy X Tour
By Michael Masilunas
contributing writer
The Comedy X Tour is making its last stop
at Penn State Bchrend on Sunday, September
17. BT, Ray Devito and Danny McDermott
are three nationally touring comedians head
lining the event. BT has been featured on
The Man Show and the HBO movie
"Suckers.” Ray Devito has been featured on
MTV, Entertainment Tonight and XM radio.
Danny Mcdermott has appeared on ABC and
been in over 100 commercials. The event is
free and open to the public. Prior to the
show, there will be a student joke off for
prizes. Everyone who attends is also entered
to win a one week free course in acting, film
or film making courtesy of The New York
October 12-15
You, Me and Dupree
October 18-21
Superman Returns
November 1-4
Clerks 2
Friday, September 15, 2006
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Boston Music Awards, and in 1997 was voted
“Best Local World Music Group Award” in the
Boston Phoenix Music Poll. The group has also
performed with a slew of professional perform
ers, including Tito Puente and played at festivals
in North America, South America and Europe. As
traditional as the band’s music is, Inca Son main
tains a non-traditional sense of performing.
Besides spreading their love of Latin and Incan
music to large crowds at big venues, the band
plays in schools, museums, private parties,
restaurants, theaters, universities and, of all
places, on the streets... to keep their cred, of
course
Don’t miss your chance to see this incredible
collective of musicians perform standard and
original Latin American music and dances this
Tuesday in the Reed Union Building in Bruno’s
at 12:15 p.m. The Rhythms of Life Series began
in 2002 and is sponsored by the Office of
Educational Equity and Diversity Programs and
the Student Activity Fee. For more information
about the Rhythms of Life Series, please call the
Office of Educational Equity and Diversity
Programs at 898-61 H. -
Film Academy. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and
the show will begin at 8:00 p.m. in
McGarvey Commons.
The Lion Entertainment Board (LEB) is
sponsoring and organizing the event. If you
have any questions regarding the event,
please contact Michael Masilunas at
mjm6s9@psu.edu.
LEB also programs bands and other spe
cial events in addition to comedians. This
Friday, the band 2 Skinny Dorks will per
form in Bruno’s. To become involved with
LEB attend a meeting on Wednesday at 7.00
p.m. in Reed 114. Visit behrendleb.com to
find out extra information on LEB.
INCASON.COM/CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
November 8-11
Accepted
November 15-18
Talladega Nights
November 29-Dec. 2
Beerfest or Idlewild
December 6-9
Invincible or
Black Dahlia